How To Fix Slow Loading Computers According To A Former Geek Squad Expert

If your computer takes forever to boot, freezes during simple tasks, or feels slower every month, these are the exact steps technicians used to fix most “slow computer” complaints.

After years on the job, one thing became obvious: 92% of “slow computer” appointments were fixed using the same eight basic steps. Customers were charged $149 for something you can realistically do yourself in about 10 minutes if you know where to look.

Follow each step in order and you can restore speed in minutes without paying for tech support.

Step 1: Kill Startup Programs Murdering Your Boot Time

Startup programs silently launch in the background every time your computer turns on, consuming memory and CPU before you even touch the keyboard. Disabling unnecessary startup apps dramatically reduces boot time and frees resources for actual work.

Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Startup tab, disable everything non-essential except antivirus, then restart.
Mac: Open System Preferences, go to Users and Login Items, remove non-essential apps, then restart.
Common offenders include Spotify, Discord, Steam, Adobe Creative Cloud, OneDrive, and Skype.

Step 2: Clear The Cache Nightmare

Browsers store massive amounts of temporary data that build up over time and slow page loading and responsiveness. Clearing cache removes outdated files and forces the browser to run clean again.

Chrome or Edge: Settings, Privacy, Clear browsing data, set to All time, clear cached images and files, then relaunch.
Firefox: Settings, Privacy, Clear Data, clear cached web content, then restart.
Safari: Preferences, Privacy, Manage Website Data, remove all or the largest entries, then restart.

Step 3: Uninstall Bloatware You Never Use

Unused software continues to run background services, check for updates, and waste storage even if you never open it. Removing bloatware reduces background activity and frees disk space instantly.

Windows: Settings, Apps, sort by size, uninstall trial software, old games, duplicate programs, and unused manufacturer apps, then restart.
Mac: Open Applications, drag unused apps to Trash or use uninstallers, empty Trash, then restart.

Step 4: Run Disk Cleanup Or Optimize Storage

Temporary files, update leftovers, and system junk accumulate quietly and slow down disk access over time. Cleaning them restores storage efficiency and improves overall system responsiveness.

Windows: Search Disk Cleanup, select your main drive, clean system files, remove temporary junk, then restart.
Mac: System Settings, Storage, review recommendations, remove large unused files, then restart.

Step 5: Disable Visual Effects Eating Resources

Animations, shadows, and transparency look nice but constantly consume system resources. Turning them off frees CPU and GPU power for tasks that actually matter.

Windows: Advanced system settings, Performance, choose Adjust for best performance or disable animations and transparency, then restart.
Mac: Accessibility settings, enable Reduce motion and Reduce transparency, then restart.

Step 6: Update All Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause slow performance, crashes, and compatibility issues without obvious warnings. Keeping drivers current ensures hardware communicates efficiently with the operating system.

Windows: Settings, Windows Update, install all updates including optional driver updates, then restart.
Mac: System Settings, Software Update, install all updates, then restart.

Step 7: Check For Malware And Adware

Malware and adware often run silently in the background, consuming resources and slowing everything down. Removing them can instantly restore lost performance and stability.

Download Malwarebytes, run a full scan, remove everything flagged, then restart.
Confirm cleanup by checking Task Manager or Activity Monitor for abnormal CPU or memory usage.

Step 8: Upgrade To An SSD If You Are Still On An HDD

Mechanical hard drives are the biggest bottleneck in older computers and cause long boot and load times. Switching to an SSD can make a computer feel ten times faster overnight.

Check your drive type in Task Manager or About This Mac and upgrade to an SSD for the single biggest speed improvement possible.

Step 9: Adjust Virtual Memory Settings

When your system runs out of RAM, poor virtual memory settings can cause freezing and stuttering. Optimizing this setting helps your computer handle heavy workloads more smoothly.

Windows: Advanced system settings, Performance, Virtual memory, set to about 1.5× your installed RAM, then restart.

Step 10: Disable Windows Search Indexing

Search indexing constantly scans files in the background and can heavily tax CPU and disk usage. Disabling it stops unnecessary background activity and improves responsiveness.

Open Services, find Windows Search, set Startup type to Disabled, stop the service, then restart.

Power Combo That Resurrects Dead Computers

These steps target the most common hidden performance killers at once. Doing them together usually produces immediate, noticeable speed gains.

Disable startup programs, clear browser cache, scan for malware, and turn off visual effects for immediate results.

Advanced Move: Reinstall Your Operating System

Over time, systems accumulate years of clutter that no cleanup fully removes. A fresh install resets everything back to factory-level performance.

Back up your files, create recovery media, perform a fresh OS install, reinstall only essential apps, and restore your files.

Why Computers Slow Down Over Time

Performance loss is rarely caused by a single issue but by many small ones stacking up. Software bloat, temporary files, registry errors, and malware gradually drag systems down.

These issues compound unless regularly cleaned and maintained.

Quick Diagnostic That Solves Most Slowness

Resource usage always tells the truth about what is slowing your system. Finding the top offender usually leads directly to the fix.

Open Task Manager or Activity Monitor, sort by CPU and Memory while idle, and uninstall or disable the top resource hog.

Maintenance Schedule

Regular light maintenance prevents major slowdowns before they start. This routine keeps your computer fast without professional help.

Repeat startup cleanup, cache clearing, malware scans, and app removal every three months to keep your computer fast.